playback quality getting bad in 10 sec. (NEWBIEE)

[pete hroo]

I am new to home recording on a PC and have been having a bugger of a time here. My experience has been with multi track tape recording in the past. I am not great with a computer so I thank you in advance for your patience with me.

My problem is that the sound quality of my track falls apart after about 10 seconds of play back.

Here is the setup.

My system is
Windows XP 2002
CPU 2.66 GHZ
Ram is 2.66 GHZ with 1.00 GB RAM
(My daughter told me that the system meets the minimum requirements)

I have created a click track to play along with.
I have plugged my Taylor directly in to the MIC input in to the back of the PC.
I press RECORD.
2 measures of Click track in I begin playing.
I have laid down the entire 3:45 min (I have also laid down only :45 seconds of a track )
The wave appears on the second track as I play
I hit the stop

When I return to the beginning of the track to listen to the recording everything sounds fine for the first few seconds and then the track begins to get muddy. As the track progresses the quality of the playback drops to zero. It sounds as if some sort of "Delay" effect is being added and then it increases exponentially as the recording continues.

I do not have any MIC that I can plug in as mine are all XLR and I don't have an adapter to go to 1/4" then down to 1/8" for the mic input on the back of the PC. I am going to Rat Shack tonight to buy a Mic with a 1/4" input to see if the same thing happens when I record using that.

I have to figure I am doing something stupid. ANY Help would be appreciated.

Newbie pete

[steve]

I suspect the problem is with your sound card - the main issue is probably just a couple of settings, but if your sound card is built into the mother board then you will probably want to upgrade it in the near future. Your computer is certainly high enough spec. to work with Audacity.

So let's look at the sound card - any idea what sort of sound card you have?

[pete hroo]

Steve

Thanks for your reply. On the 1.2.6 v 1.3 issue I didn't realize that the forums were separate until after I posted. I tried but couldn't figure out how to delete the thread on the 1.3 side. DUH me. I did download the 1.2.6 because I read the word (STABLE) being computer challenged I figured it would be safer. Should I put 1.3 on and give it a try? Is it much more complicated? How would I figure out what sound card it is. THe computer is a Dell if that helps.

pete

[kozikowski]

That's not going to cure all your problems. If you horse down on your guitar with a good energetic strum, the pickup will deliver a signal way, way, way too powerful for the average computer Microphone Input. I suspect you're microphone connection is trying to protect itself from the hot sound level or it may be slowly failing as you play. Some microphone connections try to automatically set the volume assuming you're trying to make a Skype phone call. You're not.

You might be really happy with one of the USB sound cards we reviewed. They're more intended for theatrical performances.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9477

Koz

[pete hroo]

I doubt that the input level is the problem. The reason I say that is the pickup is a Taylor Prefix Plus which is extremly adjustable I have the level set very low. I can set it to ZERO and nothing is transmitted.

pete

[steve]

1.2.6 v 1.3 issue I didn't realize that the forums were separate until after I posted.

Not to worry, we can sort that out.

I did download the 1.2.6 because I read the word (STABLE) being computer challenged I figured it would be safer.

There's just been a long discussion about this on the developers mailing list - I don't think that some of them realise how influential names and descriptions are.
The 1.3 version is now all but the new Audacity 2.0 - there's still a few little issues for them to sort out before they are all happy with it, but it a much better program than the old 1.2.6 version all round.

Should I put 1.3 on and give it a try?

Yes

Is it much more complicated?

No

How would I figure out what sound card it is

Look for a loudspeaker icon near the time/date. Double click on it and with luck it will open your sound cards control panel.

[pete hroo]

OK, OK, OK

I gave up on the 1.2.6 and went for the gusto. 1.3 is downloaded and recording without a hitch! YEA!!

Now on to the next dumb guy question. Where would I possibly find the loudspeaker icon? I am going to take a look now so if it is obvious please forget that I asked the question.

pete

[pete hroo]

does
Sigma Tel High Definition Audio CODEC Sound like the name of my sound Card? It says Sound Video and Game Controller under Device Type.

pete

[kozikowski]

<<<I doubt that the input level is the problem.>>>

Maybe. The difference between a good sensitive Microphone In and powerful Line-In can be a thousand to one. It's not unusual for people to complain that their variable volume control is either overloading or off. No middle ground. They usually complain about that first and that's our first clue of what they're doing wrong.

We were clear, right, that the microphone input is mono-only. If you try to plug your iPod or cassette player or turntable in there, you will only get "Left" of a stereo left-right feed and it has a good chance of being distorted on top of that.

Koz

[steve]

Sigma Tel High Definition Audio CODEC

Yes, that's it.
Did you find the loudspeaker icon?